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PIA News Service - Friday, June 15, 2012

Caraga Dev’t Admin. Committee discusses GSIS
Retirement Programs

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, June 15 (PIA) –The retirement
program of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) was discussed in a
meeting of the Caraga Regional Development Council–Development Administration
Committee (RDC-DAC).

Chariss Jo Dela Cruz of GSIS Butuan Branch said
that the GSIS offers various retirement programs depending on the
qualifications of the member.

“GSIS has retirement packages generally
acknowledged to be one of the most generous in the country-ensuring financial
freedom for its members, especially after they leave the service,” Dela Cruz
said.

Dela Cruz further said that with the retirement
program under Republic Act 660 also called “Magic 87,” it provides option both
for annuity and lifetime pension. For retirement under Republic Act 1616, GSIS
will refund the members’ GSIS premiums with this “take-all” option at the same
time. For retirement under Presidential Decree 1146, only those who have been
in government service after May 31, 1977, but before June 24, 1997, can avail
of this retirement program. It also gives a retiree the choice between a basic
monthly pension and cash payment.

Also, for retirement program under Republic Act
8291, a retiree may choose for his/her personal reward, either the five-year
lump sum or cash payment with instant pension while retirees could also combine
their GSIS and Social Security System (SSS) creditable years of service to
qualify for retirement program offered by both pension funds as stipulated in
Republic Act 7699 or the Portability Law.

Meanwhile, Dela Cruz also informed the committee
that GSIS recently revised the Claims and Loans Interdependency Policy (CLIP)
to the Choice of Loan Amortization Schedule for Pensioners (CLASP), which aims
to make it less burdensome for prospective retirees to settle their outstanding
obligations.

“The GSIS also conducts Pre-Retirement
Counseling Seminars every month across the country where various retirement
modes are discussed. Future retirees are taught how to compute their retirement
claims under each retirement law,” Dela Cruz added.

The GSIS is created by Commonwealth Act No. 186
that was passed on November 14, 1936, and later amended under Republic Act No.
8291 dated June 24, 1997.

Dela Cruz also informed RDC-DAC members that
GSIS continues to provide protection in contingencies of death, retirement,
separation, disability, or unemployment.

The RDC-DAC is chaired by Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand
Amante. (RER/JPG/PIA-Caraga)

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Caraga media oriented on NGCP

By Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY, June 15 (PIA) -- The National Grid
Corporation (NGCP) conducted today an educational activity for members of the
local media here.

The lecture-forum Power 101 was held to discuss
basic information on electricity and inform the media of the technical aspect
of the NGCP operations.

This activity is the first to be conducted here
in Caraga Region, and is on its sixth leg in Mindanao. Same session was already
conducted in SOCKSARGEN, Iligan City, Cagayan de Oro City, Bukindon, Lanao,
Marawi City, Davao City, and Zamboanga City. The last leg is now on the process
of finalization and is set in Dipolog City.

“Frequently asked questions that were left
unanswered before will be cleared out in this activity,” Capulong said.

As part of the lecture-forum, the media in
Caraga Region visited electrical substations in Nasipit and in this city.

After the site visitation, a forum was conducted
in one of the local hotels here for local media to ask queries on NGCP matters.

Capulong said that to date, there were no
reported cases of pilferage in Caraga Region.

Though the official admitted that pilferage has
been rampant in other regions, she added that NGCP is doing everything to solve
this problem.

She also said that the security group went to
the barangay level and tapped barangay residents to alert the NGCP officials
from time to time in case pilferage happens.

Capulong also said the latest pilferage incident
that happened is in Zamboanga City. (RER/PIA-Caraga)